The Honey Factory

[R2elk]

Chop-Saw! - I don't have that one on my list. So far i have

• Miter Saw
• Table Saw
• Clamps, ratchets and stuff to be able to build boxy-things
• Drill Press
• Band Saw - maybe in form of a small mill
• Lathe

… but that's only the list for the wood-shop. There is always so much list left over at the end of the money!

What happened to the router and why no jointer? Oh yeah:
Sanders
planer
wood vise
radial arm saw
...

 

[5Australorpasaures]

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I took a quick look and if Im missing something let me know but I didnt see anything to crazy. Im in the communist state of NY and none of the rules and regs are enforced, they just cant possibly do it with very limited resources. They're nothing to worry about here. The only regulation that was a bit off to me is requiring new beekeepers in NJ to take a class. Its okay and probably not a bad thing but I didnt like the price of the classes, a kid that wants to start beekeeping shouldn't have to pay $100 or more to take a class! NJBA should do something about the price, its too high. You have a very good state apiarist with great credentials. NY doesnt. I really like what I found on the state site below. Great for NJ beekeepers!

NJ Municipalities not allowed to ban, restrict beekeeping activities

It has recently come to the attention of NJDA that some New Jersey municipalities have local ordinances that restrict or prohibit beekeeping activities throughout their town or in certain parts of their town (such as residential areas). Such local beekeeping ordinances have not been allowed in New Jersey since 2015. They are preempted by N.J.S.A. 40:48-1.5, which gives exclusive authority over the regulation of beekeeping and apiary activities to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
The FAQ pretty much covers the basics;
https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/pdf/NJ Beekeeping Regulations FAQs.pdf

I took a quick look and if Im missing something let me know but I didnt see anything to crazy. Im in the communist state of NY and none of the rules and regs are enforced, they just cant possibly do it with very limited resources. They're nothing to worry about here. The only regulation that was a bit off to me is requiring new beekeepers in NJ to take a class. Its okay and probably not a bad thing but I didnt like the price of the classes, a kid that wants to start beekeeping shouldn't have to pay $100 or more to take a class! NJBA should do something about the price, its too high. You have a very good state apiarist with great credentials. NY doesnt. I really like what I found on the state site below. Great for NJ beekeepers!

NJ Municipalities not allowed to ban, restrict beekeeping activities

It has recently come to the attention of NJDA that some New Jersey municipalities have local ordinances that restrict or prohibit beekeeping activities throughout their town or in certain parts of their town (such as residential areas). Such local beekeeping ordinances have not been allowed in New Jersey since 2015. They are preempted by N.J.S.A. 40:48-1.5, which gives exclusive authority over the regulation of beekeeping and apiary activities to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
The FAQ pretty much covers the basics;
https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/pdf/NJ Beekeeping Regulations FAQs.pdf

My take on the whole thing is that everything you want to get involved in the "State" wants to regulate and get into your wallet, not just New Jersey. Takes me back to when RR said, "I'm from the government and I'm Here to Help". Another good one, don't know where or who said it is, "don't steal, the government hates the competition". These I write humorously but they're right as rain, I'm too old to play social engineering games with them.

 

[Apis mellifera]

My take on the whole thing is that everything you want to get involved in the "State" wants to regulate and get into your wallet, not just New Jersey.

I agree with your comments. But there is no charge for anything in the NJ apiary rules. Like NY rules and regs its mostly about getting control of AFB outbreaks and future pests and diseases. None of the rules and regulations around the country (including Hawaii) helped stop the spread of varroa and hive beetles so I dont know that they do any good anyway. On the plus side the NJ rules do help beekeepers with cranky towns and neighbors.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

What happened to the router and why no jointer? Oh yeah:
Sanders
planer
wood vise
radial arm saw
...

Ooops! Forgot the router! - Already have an oscillating sander and small planer (power-tool) and thought i can get away without a planer using the table saw… (?)
Not sure if i really need a wood vise, my uncle had two of these to deal with longer boards:

But managed everything else with pegs, clamps and the occasional strap.

Radial-Arm-saw? - I also forgot to add the water-mill driven frame-saw to the list.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

As for installing the syrup feeder frame, i was nervous like heck and procrastinated the action until afternoon. Turned out that the bees were very tame and less than ten got lost.
First i worked a piece of scrapwood into, let's call it a feeder-entrance blocker:
First i clamped down the wood to my workbench and started to thin the bottom-part on both sides, using my hand-tool planer:

This is how it is supposed to go in to prevent any bee-spillage:

And here it is fully inserted, blocking the bees from crawling up to the center channel.

With that done, i got fully dressed, grabbed the hive tool removed the outer and the inner cover and placed the feeder frame on top of the honey super. Only a few unlucky bees flew off and started to circle the hive. Here's the frame on top of the hive:

With the frame on top and the feeder entrance sealed, no more bees could run out and i had ample time to fill up both chambers in the frame with sugar syrup. A total of 8 liters (>2Gallons) went into both chambers, that, together with the full honey super should be enough to feed a hive until late March / early April. Here are two pictures of the partially filled feeder-frame with one float installed:

​

I let the whole hive rest for a couple of minutes and some of the "escabees" returned, landed on the floats and began to drink syrup. Then i pulled out the entrance blocker, quickly added the inner- and the outer- cover and was done. No need to open that hive until spring. (I hope).
I haven't installed the quilt-box [yet] - the air in my garage is very dry, despite having the fodder-tower in there.

 

[Apis mellifera]

still have yet to get one of the legendary Saskatchewan honey flows or even the provincial average of 190 lbs per hive.

You'll get there! Some nectar flows in Canada are crazy. Calgary has had some historical years. I'll see if I can find a photo. If you really enjoy getting into your hives you should try a two queen colony. One year I got over 300 pounds in 1 colony. A good winter read "A History of Keeping and Managing Doubled and Two-Queen Hives" by Alan Wade is excellent.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

You'll get there! Some nectar flows in Canada are crazy. Calgary has had some historical years. I'll see if I can find a photo. If you really enjoy getting into your hives you should try a two queen colony. One year I got over 300 pounds in 1 colony. A good winter read "A History of Keeping and Managing Doubled and Two-Queen Hives" by Alan Wade is excellent.

thank you! yes am not too worried about having the super amount of honey yet, as i don't know how to deal with it all haha, still learning all the time.

thanks i will have to look into reading that book. more knowledge is always good.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

not sure if this counts but i just bottled my first batch of mead! from honey my bees made.

it tastes a bit harsh but from research seems i need to age it longer. (been sitting in bulk aging for the last 9 months or so)

 

[Sally PB]

not sure if this counts but i just bottled my first batch of mead! from honey my bees made.

Of course it counts! Congratulations.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

not sure if this counts but i just bottled my first batch of mead! from honey my bees made.

it tastes a bit harsh but from research seems i need to age it longer. (been sitting in bulk aging for the last 9 months or so)

Congrats! - Enjoy it, just not all of it at once...